Lords ditch tradition, wig in leader shift

June 29, 2006

LONDON (AP) -- The wig will be gone, but the cushy seat known as a Woolsack will still await the winner of an unprecedented election in the House of Lords. The lords voted Wednesday to choose their first lord speaker, an innovation to replace the centuries-old office of lord chancellor. The winner will be announced July 4. The new lord speaker's post is one aspect of Prime Minister Tony Blair's unfinished project to remodel the House of Lords -- making it more democratic and ejecting many of those who had simply inherited their seats. The government expelled some 600 hereditary members in 1999, allowing 92 others to remain, but still hasn't decided how members should be chosen in the future. The lord chancellor's role was changed amid concern that a single position had so many responsibilities in separate branches of power. Besides the role in the House of Lords, the job also came with a seat in the Cabinet and the post of head of the judiciary. Those responsibilities will now be split. The lord speaker will still preside over the House, but will be independent of the government. The newly restyled lord chancellor, who is appointed by the prime minister, will take the judicial role as well as the title of secretary of state for constitutional affairs. The Woolsack -- the lord speaker's seat in the chamber -- dates from the 14th century, when sacks of wool were placed in the chamber as a reminder of the source of national wealth. The lord speaker will wear a gown while presiding -- but he will not be sporting a wig. Nine candidates sought the lord speaker's office. The post comes with an annual salary of about $185,000, plus an expense allowance of $62,000.